Chapter 25 - Dungeon(3)

Finally! The 10th floor! I look at the seemingly normal pathway. This floor of the dungeon has a screen saying Floor 10 when I look at the entrance, that's it. It's over simplistic yet we all know this is going to be the hardest floor to beat. 

"I think we should rest," I say as I sit down and lean against the wall. I haven't battled this much since... Ever. I've been in a lot of fights since I became an Awakener but these dungeons are a different beast! And this is a low-rank dungeon!!

"We're almost there, we should just enter!" He seems impatient. 

"Ain't a good idea to battle with one of us injured." 

"Ugh, here!" He hands me a healing potion as well as a mana potion. Hmm, I look at Ray while putting the mana potion in the ring he let me borrow. He's way too impatient, he's probably done a lot more dungeons than me so he should have more experience in what to do. He should know battling the boss while in a terrible condition is the worst thing you can do, there's a lower chance of survival there. Why is he so impatient to go in? Something's wrong!

"..." 

I can't do anything about it now though, I have to just keep my eyes peeled for anything suspicious from him and the monster we're about to face. I drink the potion and wait ten minutes for the potion to have an effect. 

During this time I simply watch. I watch Ray pace in front of me, an anxious and panicked look on his face. He was fine all the way through the dungeon, it's at the end he starts losing his shit? That doesn't make sense. 

We spent two weeks in this dungeon. It took us two weeks to climb nine floors of monsters to get to this floor. That's fast, way too fast for newbies. Ray took on most of the monsters. Sure, I managed to level up three times but that's nothing compared to the person walking next to me. He killed close to three times as many monsters as me and those are the ones I saw. I have no idea if he killed any while I wasn't looking.

There is no reason for me to be here... That begs the question, why am I here?

I didn't need to be here since he can solo the dungeon by himself. He didn't need my help. Is he doing it to help me get stronger? So he has someone to watch his back? I don't know but something ain't right. I have to be v-

[Ding! Forcefully awakening EVA!] 

[Failed... Failed... Success!!!] 

What? 

[Threat Detected!]

Eva! What's happening? I thought you were gone for two more weeks.

[I... I don't know. I just have a feeling you're in danger and this happened. Nevermind that, explain the situation!]

I've never heard her so panicked before. 

[I can read your thoughts, if you can think random useless shit, think things to help me figure out what's going on!] 

Well, nothing much happened, after you left Ray invited me to a dungeon crawl and here we are three levels higher. 

[... That didn't help me at all! If anything I'm more confused. I'm going to look through your memories.]

Don't you normally do that?

[I have no control over hearing your thoughts. I will not read your memories without your permission.] 

I'm touched. 

[Nothing seems wrong in your memories so I'm not sure what the problem is. I don't think clearing this dungeon is a good idea.]

I don't really have a choice now. We're already here and it would just be weird to turn around now. 

I wake up using the dungeon wall as leverage. 

"You ready?" 

"Yep." I nod to Ray as we enter the final door to the dungeon. 

Footsteps echo as we cross the door. Darkness is all I see before torches start lighting around the room. The room is circular. I look up. I have to squint to see the ceiling, what kind of monster is that tall? 

"SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!"

"We're fighting a snake?"

"Well actually-"

Bruh, ain't no way he mansplaining to me right now. Wait, I need the explanation!

"It's a serpent with a drop of True Dragon Essence." 

"Cool." I'm going to act like I understand what he said. 

[Dragons are one of the few legendary creatures and they carry with them unrivalled power. While they are known to be extinct their blood still flows through their descendants. It is extremely diluted and weak so the true form of dragons may never be seen again. At least in theory.]

You sound unsure.

[I'm not omniscient or omnipresent. My knowledge is limited to the general knowledge of this world, there are many secrets I'm not aware of. This is the view on dragons and dragon essence at the moment so that's all I'm able to find. The truth may be different so I have no idea if what the world thinks of Dragons are true. ] 

That isn't so bad. It just means this thing is stronger than normal right?

"Why isn't it attacking?" 

"We haven't entered the room yet" I look down and see a circle made of blood. It looks like blood... I'm going to assume it's blood. Both me and ray are a single step away from entering the circle. The battle starts once we enter the circle. 

"What's the plan?" 

"Do what we've been doing."

As Ray and I step into the circle of the Serpent Sanctum, the oppressive heat of the fiery serpent's lair washes over us in suffocating waves. My heart pounds in my chest as I tighten the grip on my sword, calming myself for the battle ahead.

The serpent, its massive form coiled and ready to strike, glares at us with burning eyes, its emerald scales shimmering with an ominous orange hue slowly becoming brighter. The once manageable heat keeps increasing as the scales of the serpent grow brighter.

[Then this serpent must have the essence of a Fire Dragon... I think.]

With a hiss that sends shivers down my spine and paralyses me for a tenth of a second, it unleashes a torrent of flames, engulfing the chamber in searing heat, its own body being bathed in flames. 

Ray and I dive to the side, barely avoiding the inferno as it consumes everything in its path, myself included if not for instincts forcing me to dive. As the flames subside, I rise to my feet, my muscles tense with anticipation. Beside me, Ray reached into his spatial ring, retrieving a spear. I've seen him use multiple weapons during our time here. He is above average in most of them, the sword and spear being his deadliest weapons. 

As if a silent bell is being rung we both charge forward, our weapons flashing in the dim light as we strike at the serpent's scaly hide. The serpent retaliats with blasts of fire, forcing us to dance and dodge through the inferno, our every movement fueled by sheer determination. The tail adds another obstacle as it uses it to try and hit both of us. 

With each strike, I feel the weight of our lives pressing down on me, the heat of the chamber sapping my strength with every passing moment. I refuse to yield, driving myself forward with the knowledge that victory was within our grasp.

As Ray unleashed a barrage of enchanted arrows and spells, I don't know why he knows magic on top of all these weapons. I follow suit, my sword swinging through the air as I deliver blow after blow to the serpent's fiery body. With each strike, I could feel the creature's defenses weakening, its roars of pain echoing through the chamber. It is a double-edged feeling as with every strike of my sword I feel the weapon falling apart. It is a battle of endurance. Who will fall first? The sword in my hand or the Serpent of the dungeon? Ray is doing the same thing but with both his weapons and magic.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity of battle, the serpent lets out a deafening roar of agony, its flames flickering and fading as its strength waned. With one final, desperate strike, I drove my sword deep into the serpent's heart, bringing an end to its reign of terror. The sword melts into nothingness as it enters the body of the serpent. Even the handle slowly burns itself as I let go. 

As the serpent's lifeless body slumped to the ground, I stood victorious, my chest heaving with exhaustion. Beside me, Ray offered a weary smile of relief even if he wasn't as tired as me.

Together, we had conquered the final challenge of the dungeon, emerging triumphant against all odds. Together? Ray could have easily finished the snake in a few moves! Why did I do most of the work? It doesn't matter right now. I take another deep breath as I try to regain the lost air. The air stings as I breathe it in. 

"I might need an infirmary." I slowly say as I feel the burns on my body catching up with me. I should have used ranged weapons. Luckily, all the wounds I got instantly cauterized thanks to the heat from the serpent's body. 

"That was certainly something" My hair stands on end for some reason. I turn to face Ray but all I see is a flash. 

"What?" 

[Danger!! HEALTH CRITICAL!!!] 

I look down and see my arm is torn off. There is blood flowing freely but thanks to the heat it is slowly closing. That's not a good thing. Did-